Oklahoma City Thunder coach Mark Daigneault is planning for the challenge of slowing down the Indiana Pacers in a matchup of two of the NBA's highest-scoring teams in the Finals starting with Game 1 on Thursday.

Oklahoma City Thunder head coach Mark Daigneault is just 40 years old and has been a head coach since 2020. On the other side is Rick Carlisle, who got his coaching start in 2001 with the Detroit Pistons before coaching the Indiana Pacers from 2003 to 2007.

This is why Daigneault refers to the Thunder as an uncommon group. Oklahoma City’s youth is much talked about, but it’s a real thing. Gilgeous-Alexander, the West finals MVP, is 26. Collectively, OKC is among the youngest teams in the league. But the group as a whole now displays a level of maturity that belies its years.